Diana Barrymore and Brian Donlevy in British noir
Diana Barrymore and Brian Donlevy star in "Nightmare" from 1942.
Daniel Shane (Brian Donlevy) roams the streets of London, having lost his business in an air raid. He overhears a couple talking about putting a key under the mat as they leave; he lets himself in, finds some eggs, cooks them, and eats.
A young woman, Leslie Stafford (Barrymore) enters, and Daniel explains his predicament. She doesn't want him to leave. He explains he's sailing to America with the shirt on his back to join the war effort. She promises him money and a new suit if he will do her a favor.
She takes him upstairs, and inside a room is a man, head on a desk, knife in his back. She asks Daniel to get rid of the body. It's her husband; she claims she didn't kill him.
Daniel does what she asks. Only one problem - the body shows up again in exactly the same place! Now they get out, heading for her cousin's in a car that each thinks belongs to the other. It doesn't.
A likeable cast enlivens this film, which has some witty dialogue. Donlevy is terrific as he tries to sort out what he's gotten himself into - unafraid, relaxed, and seeing it all as a challenge.
Diana Barrymore is very good; she was a lovely actress. Unfortunately, her personal problems got in the way, and she was dead by the age of 38. When she was down on her luck, Tyrone Power gave her money. A sad life.
I immediately recognized Hans Conried, Uncle Tonoose from the Danny Thomas Show, in a small role. I'm not sure why I recognized him.
Entertaining film.
Daniel Shane (Brian Donlevy) roams the streets of London, having lost his business in an air raid. He overhears a couple talking about putting a key under the mat as they leave; he lets himself in, finds some eggs, cooks them, and eats.
A young woman, Leslie Stafford (Barrymore) enters, and Daniel explains his predicament. She doesn't want him to leave. He explains he's sailing to America with the shirt on his back to join the war effort. She promises him money and a new suit if he will do her a favor.
She takes him upstairs, and inside a room is a man, head on a desk, knife in his back. She asks Daniel to get rid of the body. It's her husband; she claims she didn't kill him.
Daniel does what she asks. Only one problem - the body shows up again in exactly the same place! Now they get out, heading for her cousin's in a car that each thinks belongs to the other. It doesn't.
A likeable cast enlivens this film, which has some witty dialogue. Donlevy is terrific as he tries to sort out what he's gotten himself into - unafraid, relaxed, and seeing it all as a challenge.
Diana Barrymore is very good; she was a lovely actress. Unfortunately, her personal problems got in the way, and she was dead by the age of 38. When she was down on her luck, Tyrone Power gave her money. A sad life.
I immediately recognized Hans Conried, Uncle Tonoose from the Danny Thomas Show, in a small role. I'm not sure why I recognized him.
Entertaining film.
- blanche-2
- Jan 15, 2022